LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- In-Flight Network LLC (IFN), a News Corporation and Rockwell Collins
joint venture, conducted live, air-to-ground demonstrations during a press conference today, previewing a new
technology that will provide airline passengers with broadband Internet, e-mail and live television services by early 2001.
The air-ground sneak preview demonstration took place today at the Mercury Air Center in Burbank, California,
following an earlier test in June 2000, when a prototype was flown and successfully operated over parts of North
America. Passengers were able to access a wide variety of Websites and on-line services, including the popular
American Online, Inc., using standard laptop PCs and browsers. For the first time, Webcams inside the IFN aircraft
enabled those connected via the Internet around the world to see and hear the demonstrations on-board, as they
happened.
In another first, the IFN system's high-speed in-flight Internet connection will also enable streaming video delivery of live
television, including news, sports, business/finance information and entertainment. The IFN system will interface with
passengers' laptops and PDAs, in addition to existing aircraft in-flight entertainment systems.
"In-Flight Network's breakthrough capabilities represent a milestone in delivering high-speed global wireless
connectivity," said Jeffrey Wales, CEO, In-Flight Network LLC and Senior V.P., News Corporation. "In this digital age,
Internet access and e-mail services aren't a luxury, they're a business necessity. IFN's worldwide ability to deliver
targeted programming content, together with unlimited broadband Internet access, guarantees that airline passengers will
receive the widest possible range of entertainment and information content, while providing marketers with a powerful
new global advertising medium."
IFN affiliate airlines will be able to provide passengers with flight- specific, co-branded digital programming in multiple
languages. IFN's targeted ad insertion capabilities enables global, national, regional and local advertisers to deliver
full-motion broadcast video spots to aircrafts in flight throughout the world. Web-based video spots and banner ads will
also be delivered to PC users on targeted aircrafts and airport premises.
In-Flight Network LLC is a joint venture entity formed by News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A), one of the
world's leading media companies, and Rockwell Collins (NYSE: ROK), a world leader in aviation electronics. Globalstar
and QUALCOMM also have long-term participation in the development of the IFN system. For more information about
In-Flight Network, visit their Web site at www.inflightnetwork.com.
Media contact: Jeff Rose, jrose@bwr-la.com, or Jennifer Mellios, jmellios@bwr-la.com of B|W|R Public Relations,
310.550.7776
SOURCE In-Flight Network LLC
CO: In-Flight Network LLC; News Corporation; Rockwell Collins
ST: California
IN: AIR MLM
SU: PDT |
